Police Report: Crash fatality

From Staff

Published Saturday, May 29, 2004

ST AUGUSTINE

A bicyclist died Friday morning in an accident at 8:06 a.m. on State Road 207 near Dobbs Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol Web site. The crash is under investigation. No other information was available Friday.

PUTNAM COUNTY

Fishermen accused of charging the fish: Stunned fish were not the only ones punished because of an electric shocking device. Two Ocala brothers were picked up for "monkey fishing" Thursday, according the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The men were found in possession of illegal gear used for an illegal method of taking freshwater fish, the report said.

Monkey fishing was popular years ago when fisherman used homemade devices to send an electrical charge into the water, according to Joy Hill, spokeswoman for the commission. The charge would send the fish swimming to the surface to escape. The fisherman could then use long-handled nets to scoop the slightly stunned fish out of the water, she said.

The men had caught about 40 pounds of catfish and were just beginning their expedition when they were surprised by the officers, according to the report. The officers picked up the men in Bear Creek off of the Oklawaha River in Putnam County.

"It is extremely difficult to catch monkey fisherman because they do not bring their equipment back to the ramp," said Lt. Bob Lee, the commission's law enforcement supervisor in Putnam County. "They usually hide it in a swamp behind a large tree or at the junction of several creeks. This makes it imperative that the officers who desire to make this case go after them by boat."

The 24 catfish the brothers had shocked up were donated to the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch in Palatka, the report said.

Leo Gerald Bright and Luther George Bright, 50, both of Northwest 65th Place, Ocala, were charged with taking freshwater fish by an illegal method, the report said. Their court date is scheduled for June 12 in the Putnam County Courthouse, the report said.

POLICE REPORTS

The following was compiled from police reports collected from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJCSO), St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) and St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD):